Canucks vs Kings best bet: Filip Hronek Over 0.5 assists (+115)
Filip Hronek has been the Vancouver Canucks’ top facilitator this season, leading the team with 38 helpers. Twenty of those assists have come on the road, and the Czech native has cashed the Over in four of his last five appearances.
Hronek has already notched four assists in April, and he’s also hit the Over in three contests in a row on the road. Hronek also plays on PP1 with the likes of Marco Rossi, Brock Boeser, and Elias Pettersson, three of the team’s best finishers.
Six of his last seven assists were on the power play, and the Kings are struggling immensely without a man, ranking 30th in power-play kill percentage.
Canucks vs Kings same-game parlay
Jake DeBrusk had a quiet night against Vegas on Tuesday with just one SOG, but he did cash the Over in six of his previous seven games before that. DeBrusk is averaging 2.61 SOG per contest this season.
Los Angeles is 11th in SOG allowed, but they just gave up 31 shots on target to the Predators, and DeBrusk has cashed the Over in three of his last four road outings.
Elias Pettersson is averaging 1.73 SOG this season, and he’s averaging exactly 1.5 SOG against the Kings this season.
The Swede has hit the Over in two of his last four on the road, and again, this Kings penalty kill is poor. If the Canucks get a few power plays, Pettersson can easily collect a couple of SOG with the man advantage alone.
The Vancouver Canucks have hit the 2P Game Total Over in 6 of their last 10 games (+6.05 Units / 54% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Kings.
How to watch Canucks vs Kings
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Puck drop
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
SNP, FDSN-W
Canucks vs Kings latest injuries
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NEW YORK — Major League Baseball’s average salary rose 3.4% on opening day to a record $5.34 million, according to a study by The Associated Press, and the New York Mets topped spending at the season’s start for the fourth straight year.
Mets outfielder Juan Soto is the highest-paid player for the second consecutive season at $61.9 million and was followed by New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger at $42.5 million.
Philadelphia pitcher Zack Wheeler and Mets third baseman Bo Bichette tied for third at $42 million. Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was fifth at $40.2 million, just ahead of Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge at $40 million.
The Mets’ payroll of $352.2 million was just below the record $355.4 million they set in 2023 and up from $322.6 million last year. The Mets’ total is more than five times that of Cleveland, the lowest-spending team at $62.3 million.
The two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers were second at $316.6 million, down from $319.5 million last year. The Dodgers’ total would be $395.2 million if deals for nine players with deferred money had not been discounted to present-day value. The Mets have deals with deferred money with just three players and their total would be $360 million without discounting.
MLB’s average of $5,335,966 increased from $5,160,245 at the start of last season and has risen 28% under the five-year collective bargaining agreement that expires in December, an average of 5.6% annually.
The top five spenders were unchanged from last year, with the Yankees third ($297.2 million), followed by Philadelphia ($282 million) and Toronto ($269 million).
Six clubs had $250 million payrolls, up from four; and 10 teams had $200 million payrolls, an increase from nine.
Eight teams were under $100 million, up from five.
Detroit had the biggest increase, up $64.2 million to $206.7 million after signing pitcher Framber Valdez, re-signing Gleyber Torres with a qualifying offer and giving a big raise to ace Tarik Skubal via arbitration. Atlanta increased by $44.1 million, and the Chicago Cubs, Toronto and the Mets by just under $30 million.
Minnesota slashed payroll by $46.3 million from opening day last year to $96.5 million.
St. Louis cut its opening day payroll from $141.5 million to $100.4 million. The Cardinals’ spending includes $44 million it is paying Arizona and Boston as part of trades to get rid of Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, plus just under $3.4 million to Arenado as the present-day value of a $6 million assignment bonus that originally had been deferred money owed in his contract and remains payable by the Cardinals in 2040 and ’41.
Other teams with big cuts included the Guardians ($40.2 million), Texas ($37.3 million) and Washington ($23.3 million).
Payrolls include the 942 players on opening day rosters and injured lists. They do not include players on the restricted list such as Cleveland pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar and Philadelphia outfielder Johan Rojas.
They also don’t reflect players who started the season assigned to minor league teams such as Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim and Toronto pitcher Yariel Rodríguez.
Baseball’s median salary, the point at which an equal number of players are above and below, rose to $1.4 million from $1.35 million and remained below the record high of $1.65 million at the start of 2015. Active rosters expanded to 26 players in 2021.
Average and median salaries decline over the course of the season as veterans are released and replaced by younger players making closer to the minimum. MLB calculated the 2025 final average at $4.61 million and the players’ association at $4.72 million.
There were 519 players earning $1 million or more, at 55% the same as last year.
Nineteen players earned $30 million or more, an increase of four; 74 were at $20 million, up from 66; and 168 at $10 million, down from 177.
Thirty-one players made the $780,000 minimum.
The top 50 players make 30% of the salaries, up from 29% in the prior two years, and the top 100 earn 49%, up from 48% last year.
The AP’s figures include salaries and prorated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income. Payroll figures factor in adjustments for cash transactions in trades, signing bonuses that are the responsibility of the club agreeing to the contract, option buyouts and termination pay for released players.
MLB’s payrolls are based on 40-man rosters and fluctuate each day depending on roster moves.
The Houston Rockets still have a chance to catch the Denver Nuggets for the Western Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed. The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to move into the East’s No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in tournament.
How to Watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. Houston Rockets
The playoff scenarios on the line Thursday night are not that thrilling, but there are games that will have big impacts on the final seeding. Here is what you need to know.
Playoff Scenarios
Boston clinches the No. 2 seed in the East and the Atlantic Division crown with a win over the Knicks. Boston is going to be the No. 2 seed and the Atlantic Division champ regardless — it would have to lose out and New York would have to win out to flip that — but it all can become official tonight.
Games to Watch
Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m. ET, League Pass
Toronto is one of five teams in the East that can finish anywhere from No. 5 to No. 9, with just two games separating them. Toronto currently sits as the No. 6 seed, avoiding the play-in, but it needs wins to stay there and this is a critical one. Miami is likely to be the No. 10 seed, but it has a chance to climb a spot or two if it wins out. The Heat had a players-only meeting after their last loss, we'll see if that has any impact tonight.
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video
While Boston can lock up the No. 2 seed, this game matters more to the Knicks, which is now just half a game up on Cleveland, which sits fourth in the East. This game is a potential second-round playoff showdown, however, if Boston wins on the road it becomes much more possible it is not and Cleveland would jump up to third in the East by season's end.
Philadelphia 76ers at Houston Rockets, 8 p.m. ET, League Pass
Both teams are in a playoff chase and need wins. Philadelphia is currently eighth in the East but could finish anywhere from fifth to 10th depending on how the final three games shake out — the 76ers desperately need wins. Houston appears headed for a 4/5 showdown with the shorthanded Lakers in the first round, though it could finish as high as third (which would require an unlikely collapse by Denver). The Rockets need a couple wins down the stretch to have home court against the Lakers in the first round, the teams are currently tied.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 21: Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field on August 21, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Athletics defeated the Twins 8-3. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s announced a roster move on Thursday morning. The club has recalled right-hander Jack Perkins while optioning righty reliever Michael Kelly to Triple-A:
The A's have recalled RHP Jack Perkins from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned RHP Michael Kelly to Las Vegas.
It looks like the club has settled on Perkins taking the rotation spot that was vacated by Luis Morales earlier this week. Perkins, who came into camp vying for a spot in the season-opening rotation, had a decent spring but was always a long shot to jump over someone else for a spot. Instead he began his season in Las Vegas with the Aviators, with whom he made three relief appearances lasting a total of just seven innings of work.
That means he’s likely going to be on a short pitch limit at least in the early going. It’s being speculated that he’ll work with JT Ginn, with one or the other piggybacking off the other. We’ll see how it works on Friday against the Mets.
To make room on the roster the club demoted right-handed reliever Michael Kelly to Triple-A. Kelly, who had been viewed as a potential late-game option for manager Mark Kotsay in the bullpen, has had a tough start to his season, allowing runs in three of his four appearances. The club needed a spot on the active roster for Perkins and Kelly drew the short stick this time. We’ll almost certainly be seeing him again later this season. For now he heads to Las Vegas to work on his stuff and staying ready for when the A’s need another arm in the ‘pen.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels right-hander Robert Stephenson will miss the 2026 season after having ligament and flexor tendon repair surgery on his right elbow.
It is the continuation of injury woes for Stephenson, who was expected to be one of the team’s top relievers after signing a three-year, $33 million deal in January 2024. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing an ulnar collateral ligament repair with an internal brace in May 2024.
Stephenson was limited to 12 games in 2025 after he was diagnosed with a stretched biceps nerve.
Stephenson, 33, had a setback in spring training after attempting to pitch through thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms he experienced in the offseason.
Angels manager Kurt Suzuki told MLB.com before an 8-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves that Stephenson’s latest setback was heartbreaking.
“This guy wants to pitch, this guy wants to be good,” Suzuki said. “Up until he had that setback in spring training, he was in a good spot mentally. He was excited, he was happy to be back on the mound. So this is heartbreaking.”
Stephenson, who made his major league debut with Cincinnati in 2016, has a 4.69 ERA in nine seasons.
There are only four days remaining in the NBA regular season. Enjoy them.
Sure, we wine and moan about the half-assed efforts, mixed motivations, and full-on tanking during the home stretch, but with that chaos comes edges.
Soon enough, we’ll only have a handful of postseason games to pick from each day, and those odds will be far less forgiving than these final days of the schedule.
I make the most of this scattered late-season slate with my best NBA player props and NBA picks below.
The Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat for the second time in three days tonight. Toronto is clinging to the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and needs another impressive win, following Tuesday’s 121-95 squash.
R.J. Barrett was one of five Raptors to score in double figures, but Thursday’s prop pick singles out his playmaking.
The small forward finished with only two assists in that last meeting, marking just the third time in the past nine games Barrett hasn’t dished out four or more assists.
He and others had to pick up the ball-handling slack left by Immanuel Quickley’s recent injury. Quickley returned Tuesday but logged limited minutes, so Toronto still needs more playmaking from the likes of Barrett.
He registered seven potential assists against Miami last time out and averaged 6.6 potential dimes over the previous nine outings. The Heat have nosedived down the defensive rankings in recent months and have allowed 28.6 assists per game since the All-Star break (22nd).
Assist projections for Barrett all sit north of the 3.5 O/U, with the majority of models at four dimes with a ceiling flirting with five.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FDSN-Sun, SportsNet
Prop #2: Alperen Sengun to record a double-double
+100 at bet365
I originally had Joel Embiid staying Under his points total in this game, but he was ruled out due to an emergency appendectomy.
The news hit while I was grocery shopping and prompted an early checkout and sprint back to the desk to update my NBA props. This brings me to Alperen Sengun.
The Houston Rockets' big man catches a break without Embiid in action tonight. The Philadelphia 76ers' defense declines without their center in the middle and also has a tougher time cleaning the glass.
Sengun is coming off a 12-point, 14-rebound effort against Phoenix and faces a much softer interior from Philadelphia, which will rely on the old bones of Andre Drummond and reserve Adem Bona to plug the massive gap left by Embiid’s illness.
His 34 double-doubles this season are tied for eighth in the NBA, and Sengun finished with 13 points and eight rebounds with Embiid in action when these teams last met in January.
Projections have Sengun well clear of 10 points, and his rebounding forecasts range from 8.9 to 10.8 boards versus the Sixers tonight.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SCHN, NBCS-Philadelphia
Prop #3: Mikel Bridges Over 12.5 points
+100 at bet365
The New York Knicks are guarding the No. 3 seed in the East in these final games of the season. The Knicks stay in MSG for all three closing contests and may get a gift from the Boston Celtics, who could rest a slew of starters tonight due to a back-to-back squeeze.
Mikal Bridges has been excellent against the rival Celtics this season, putting up efforts of 12, 14, and 35 points in three meetings. He’s an erratic scorer who runs hot and cold but appears be getting warm at the right time.
Bridges is averaging more than 14 points per game over his last eight outings while shooting 50% from the field in that span.
The Celtics could be without as many as four starters and opt to limit Jayson Tatum in the first of back-to-back games. Boston has climbed from a +3.5 underdog to +4.5, with that market move hinting the C’s plans for tonight.
Bridges projections all sit north of 13 points with a ceiling of 14.5. That could be even bigger if Boston rolls out a makeshift lineup and lies down for the Knicks.
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HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Brice Sensabaugh #28 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on April 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have almost reached the end of the NBA regular season, which concludes on Sunday. There isn’t a ton of drama in these last few days of the regular season, as it is known which teams have clinched spots in the playoffs or play-in games.
The only bit of intrigue left comes from the Eastern Conference, where three teams sit less than two games behind in moving out of a play-in game spot and into the top six in the conference, which would guarantee them a spot in the actual playoffs.
Currently, seven former Ohio State players are on NBA rosters. Three of those players are playing for teams that will be a part of the NBA postseason, while the other four are on the worst teams in the league this year.
For those that are playing on teams occupying the bottom of the NBA standings, it isn’t all bad news, as the failings of their teams have allowed them to see more playing time than they might otherwise have had if their squads had been in playoff position.
Since we are so close to the end of the regular season, now feels like a good time to give an update on how the year has gone for those Buckeyes in the NBA, and what might lie ahead for those former Ohio State players who will be in the postseason this year.
Mike Conley – Minnesota Timberwolves
Despite playing a career-low 18.2 minutes per game, the last couple of months have been a bit of a wild ride for the former Ohio State guard.
Prior to the trade in early February, Conley was traded to the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team trade. A day later, Conley was then shipped by the Bulls to Charlotte with Coby White. The following day, Conley was waived by the Hornets, and after clearing waivers, he resigned with the Timberwolves on Feb. 17.
Minnesota will likely enter the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western Conference, as with three games left to play, they are three games behind the Lakers and Rockets. The veteran looks like he is playing his best basketball of the season at the right time.
After entering April with three games this season where he scored at least 10 points, Conley has reached double digits in scoring in two of the three games he has played this month. The former Buckeye is finding his rhythm from behind the arc, going 9-16 from three-point range this month.
The 11 points he scored on Sunday against Charlotte were the first time he scored at least 10 points in a game since Nov. 19.
While Conley isn’t going to see a ton of time on the floor these days, he will undoubtedly be ready when his number is called for Minnesota in the playoffs. To go along with the star power Anthony Edwards brings to the table, Conley has the calming veteran influence that a team that is looking to get over the hump and finally make the NBA Finals brings to the table.
Brice Sensabaugh – Utah Jazz
The most exciting former Ohio State player in the NBA this season has been Brice Sensabaugh, who is averaging 14.9 points per game in just 23.6 minutes per game. Sensabaugh has seen his time on the court tick up throughout the season since he is playing for the Utah Jazz, who are actively trying to be the worst team in the NBA.
The Jazz have already had tanking allegations levied against them, and are currently tied with the Sacramento Kings for the worst record in the Western Conference.
When he has been given time on the court, Sensabaugh has been a scoring machine. After scoring 34 points in 43 minutes against Oklahoma City on Sunday, he now has four games this season with at least 30 points.
Following March, when he averaged 20.8 points per game, Sensabaugh is averaging 25 points per game through the four games he has played in April. Sensabaugh has been on fire from three-point range this month, hitting six triples in two of the four games in April.
It’s hard to say if Sensabaugh is a part of Utah’s long-term plans, since a lot of the future for the Jazz likely depends on where they land in the draft lottery. Judging by how he didn’t see much playing time earlier in the season when Utah was closer to fully healthy, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the former Buckeye traded in the offseason, since there likely won’t be enough playing time next season to justify the Jazz keeping Sensabaugh.
Jae’Sean Tate – Houston Rockets
Another Buckeye who will join Conley in the playoffs is Jae’Sean Tate of the Houston Rockets. Judging by how little he has played during the regular season, it’s only likely that Tate will see the court in a blowout or if Houston suffers a number of injuries.
So far this season, Tate has appeared in 44 games, where he is averaging 8.4 minutes per game and 2.6 points per game.
Since Houston has clinched a spot in the playoffs, Tate has been used a little more in April, registering 33 minutes across those games. On April 3 against Utah, Tate finished with seven points against Utah, which is only bettered this year by the eight points he scored in an early February game against Indiana.
Much like Conley, Tate could be valuable in the postseason since he is a veteran. Tate is in his sixth season in the NBA, so he knows he could be called upon at any time. If Tate gets on the floor in the playoffs, expect him to give everything he has to help Kevin Durant and the Rockets make a run at the title.
Jamison Battle – Toronto Raptors
The third former Buckeye playing for a playoff team this year is Jamison Battle. The Toronto Raptors are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, but are just a game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic. As long as the Raptors don’t fall below sixth place, they’ll avoid the play-in tournament that starts next week.
After one season at Ohio State, Jamison Battle is now in his second season with the Toronto Raptors. Following a rookie season where he started 10 games and averaged 17.7 minutes per game, Battle has seen his minutes cut to 8.7 per game during the 2025-26 season. Along with his dip in minutes, Battle is only averaging 3.2 points per game this season.
Battle’s best game in 2026 came last month against Utah when he recorded 17 points, which has only been topped by the 20 points he scored on Oct. 31 against Cleveland. So far in April, Battle has appeared in three games, but has only registered nine minutes of playing time during those contests.
Don’t expect Battle to be on the court much once the playoffs hit, since Toronto looks to have its rotation set.
E.J. Liddell – Brooklyn Nets
One former Ohio State player who looks like they are going to have a strong close to the regular season is E.J. Liddell. After he was taken in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft, Liddell suffered a knee injury, which kept him on the sidelines during the 2022-23 season.
Following the tough start to his NBA career, Liddell has struggled to find traction, appearing in just 20 games over the next two seasons.
Although Liddell has only played in 23 games this year, he has at least recorded the first two starts of his professional career. Entering April, Liddell had scored 55 points this season for the Nets. In two games this month, Liddell has registered 36 points, with his season high coming on Tuesday night when he finished with 21 points against Milwaukee.
It’s unlikely Liddell’s future lies with Brooklyn, since the Nets likely don’t have an idea of what they are doing going forward. At least the strong close to the regular season for Liddell might entice other teams to take a chance on the former Buckeye, since he is still pretty young and talented.
Micah Potter – Indiana Pacers
Despite Potter opting to transfer to Wisconsin to close out his college basketball career after starting his career at Ohio State, we’ll update you on how his season is going.
Since Indiana’s year has been a mess after Tyrese Haliburton was injured during the NBA Finals last season, Potter has seen more playing time as the end of the season has drawn closer. The big man has played in 44 games, averaging 9.4 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Potter is coming off one of his best performances of the season, recording a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds on Sunday against Cleveland. The double-double was the fourth of the season for Potter. The only higher-scoring output Potter has registered this season came in February when he finished with 23 points against Philadelphia.
The future for Indiana isn’t clear since so much hinges on Haliburton returning to the court healthy last year. Also, the Pacers traded for Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers. With how Potter has been able to provide solid production when called on throughout his four seasons in the league, a team will likely pick up the former Buckeye and Badger if Indiana decides not to bring him back next season.
D’Angelo Russell – Washington Wizards
There isn’t a lot to report on the former Ohio State guard, since he hasn’t played since Jan. 10, when he was still with the Dallas Mavericks.
Russell was packaged with Anthony Davis in the trade that sent them to the Washington Wizards. Neither player has suited up for the Wizards, who currently have the worst record in the NBA. Russell will finish the season averaging 10.2 points per game in the 26 contests he appeared in.
Finding value in fantasy drafts is essential to win a league title. While some of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball will be more productive in their expected roles, others will take full advantage of new opportunities.
Whether that's through a change in scenery or injuries to other players, those who exceed expectations are capable of delivering fantasy managers a league title. Below are some of the biggest surprises in fantasy basketball this season.
Coming off of a 2024-25 season in which he was one of the NBA's best reserves, Alexander-Walker appeared likely to take on a similar role after his move from Minnesota to Atlanta. Then, Trae Young suffered a knee injury during the Hawks' fifth game of the season, and Alexander-Walker has been a fixture in the starting lineup ever since. For the season, he's averaged 20.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks and 3.2 three-pointers per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 90.2 percent from the foul line.
Alexander-Walker began the season with a Yahoo! ADP well outside of the first 100 picks; he'll end it as a player providing third-round value in eight- and nine-cat formats. And from a non-fantasy standpoint, he's the betting favorite to win Most Improved Player honors.
C Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Despite his scoring and rebounding averages taking a hit last season in comparison to his 2023-24 numbers, Duren was expected to provide consistent fantasy value in the middle for the Pistons this season. However, few may have expected the leap that the fourth-year center made as a scorer. Earning his first All-Star Game appearance, Duren has averaged a career-best 19.5 points per game on 64.9 percent shooting from the field and 74.4 percent shooting from the foul line. Add in the rebounding prowess, and Duren has provided reliable top-50 fantasy value.
F OG Anunoby, New York Knicks
There was a sense that first-year head coach Mike Brown's offensive approach would benefit the Knicks' wings, as it put the ball in their hands more often. And Anunoby made the most of his opportunities. In 65 games, he has averaged 17.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.4 three-pointers, shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 82.6 percent from the foul line. Beginning the season with a Yahoo! ADP outside of the top-60, Anunoby has been ranked comfortably within the top-50 for most of this season.
C Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP in the eighties, Clingan has provided top-50 fantasy value in his second NBA season. In 75 games, the 7-foot-2 center has averaged 12.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 three-pointers, shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 67.5 percent from the foul line.
Emerging as one of the best centers to roster for those willing to punt free-throw percentage, Clingan's willingness to attempt shots from the perimeter is worth watching. After attempting 49 three-pointers as a rookie, he's made 80 this season, shooting 33.8 percent. That isn't an elite percentage, but Clingan has the potential to make the three-pointer a reliable aspect of his game as he continues to develop.
G Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks
While Damian Lillard's Achilles tendon rupture and subsequent departure from Milwaukee opened the door for Rollins to compete for minutes this season, few fantasy managers expected him to be as valuable as he would become. A starter in 67 of the 74 games he has appeared in, Rollins has averaged 17.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.5 three-pointers while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 79.6 percent from the foul line.
To receive top-50 production from a player likely added off the waiver wire during a solid opening month of the season is the kind of transaction that can win fantasy managers a league title.
C Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics
Even with Queta's solid showing for Portugal at EuroBasket just before the start of this season, some questioned if he could separate himself from the competition for the starting center job in Boston. The 7-footer did so, starting 73 of the 74 games that he's appeared in.
Queta heads into the postseason with career-best averages in points (10.3), rebounds (8.3), assists (1.6), steals (0.8) and blocks (1.3) while shooting 65.1 percent from the field and 69.9 percent from the foul line. Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP well outside of the first 100 picks, Queta has provided reliable top-100 value in his first NBA season as a starter.
G Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns
Gillespie's fantasy value took a hit during the latter stages of this season thanks to a shooting slump, but that does not erase the work done to earn a consistent role in Phoenix. A starter in 57 of his 79 games, the third-year guard has averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.9 three-pointers, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 87.4 percent from the foul line. "Villain Jr." carved out a consistent role for himself, and the timing could not be better, as Gillespie will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
F Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans
Sent to New Orleans as part of a three-team deal headlined by CJ McCollum, Bey has enjoyed a career year after missing the entire 2024-25 campaign rehabbing from a torn ACL. In 72 games, starting 64, he has averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.1 three-pointers while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 84.1 percent from the foul line.
Bey took advantage of opportunities that came about due to injury to other Pelicans rotation players, locking down a spot in the starting lineup. As a result, a player who was not on the radar of most fantasy managers will end the season providing top-100 value.
Honorable Mention (they were good before the injuries hit)
F Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets
While the expectation of many was that Porter's numbers would receive a boost in Brooklyn, few expected him to be close to a top-25 player before his season came to a premature end in mid-March. Fantasy managers in most leagues could not benefit during their playoff rounds, but that doesn't erase the fact that Porter averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers.
G Keyonte George, Utah Jazz
There were questions heading into the season about whether George was the right point guard to lead the Jazz into the future. Not anymore. In 54 games, he averaged career-highs in points, assists and steals, and his field-goal percentage jumped from 39.1 percent in 2024-25 to 45.6 percent this season. It will be interesting to see how George's fantasy value will be affected by Utah's improved rotation in 2026-27.
C Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
While Sarr finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting last season, the production did not pick up until after the All-Star break. He made notable strides in Year 2, with his averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks all improving. Sarr's improved strength allowed him to spend more time in the paint, which helped increase his impact on both ends of the floor, and his fantasy value increased as well.
Oct 10, 2008; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers celebrates with first base coach Davey Lopes after hitting a single driving in two runs in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game two of the NLCS at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
There will be a few baseball obituaries about Davey Lopes written in the coming days, most of them better written than this. Going over the full career of Lopes as it pertains to his playing days would require me talking about his days with the Dodgers, days in which he was part of a hated rivalry between them and the Phillies. Perhaps his most infamous moment as a member of the Dodgers playing against the Phillies came on a play in the 1977 playoffs, where he was incorrectly called safe on a bang-bang play in the ninth inning of Game 3 of that NLCS.
He was out, but the decision to not bring in a substitute for Greg Luzinski was arguably as critical, but I digress.
Lopes’ real impact with the Phillies came during his coaching career with the team from 2007-2010, where he transformed that team into a terror on the bases. It’s one of the parts of the game that isn’t as noticeable with its impact on the field compared to hitting, pitching or fielding, but it can still be something that takes good team into a different territory. It’s what happened with the Phillies during that time period and Lopes was the conductor.
Being a good coach means you make players better. A lot of times, that might show up on the field right before our eyes. If a hitter that was struggling turns his game around under the tutelage of a new voice, the hitting coach gets the credit. We’ve seen what happens when a pitching coach has his finger on the pulse of a staff when it comes to Caleb Cotham as he has become one of the better pitching coaches in the game. Heck, even Bobby Dickerson has somehow made Alec Bohm into something resembling an average fielder.
It’s those other guys, the infield coaches, outfield coaches, guys like Dickerson, that improvement sometimes isn’t truly seen on pages of data. When it comes to Lopes, his impact on the team’s running game was undeniable. During his tenure with the team, the Phillies were the best baserunning team in baseball. It showed up in the traditional stats like stolen bases, where Lopes’ expertise in analyzing the opposing pitchers made them the most efficient team around (84% success rate). It also showed up in the other things that make baserunners good. Fangraphs tracks different advanced baserunning stats with their publicly available information. The Phillies of 2007-2010 were the best in several of these categories, including wSB (stolen bases and caught stealing runs above average – 43.8), speed score (5.3) and baserunning runs (77.5).
It’s no coincidence that in the years after Lopes left, the team fell to the middle of the pack. His being let go had an impact on the team. Of course, the team during this time had several baserunners that excelled at the skill in Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Jayson Werth to name a few. Sometimes, it helps having better clay to mold from, but almost to a man, Lopes was given a lot of credit for helping them improve in an underrated facet of the game.
The Phillies of that time period gave the city its first extended taste of championship baseball in nearly 30 years. It culminated in a world championship in 2008 that saw all parts come together in a glorious run. Lopes was an important part of that team.
In 2024, Javier Assad ascended from swingman to the Cub rotation and made 29 starts in a very effective season. Between injuries and other options emerging in 2025 he was an afterthought. Tuesday night, he was summoned from Iowa to fill one big hole in the Cub rotation.
In 2025, Colin Rea was signed for a swingman role but filled a large hole in the Cub rotation that arose when Justin Steele was lost to an elbow injury. In 2026, the Cubs obtained even more depth and on top of Assad starting in Iowa, Rea was relegated to long reliever. Another elbow injury and a (hopefully) much less significant injury to 2025 All-Star Matthew Boyd opened two spots in the rotation.
Assad re-emerged on Tuesday and gave the Cubs a huge lift with a very strong start, just missing six innings and a quality start (by definition). On Wednesday it was Rea’s turn to re-emerge. And re-emerge he did. He followed Assad’s script and pitched what felt like a real quality start. At just five innings, it doesn’t meet the accepted statistical definition. With two hits, two walks and just one run, it was an awfully effective one.
It can never be said enough. You just can’t ever have too much pitching depth. Hopefully, Matthew Boyd comes back strong and Justin Steele also finds his way back to being an effective pitcher for this team. None of us are ever going to be fully comfortable with a rotation that includes Rea and Assad as well as Jameson Taillon and Shōta Imanaga. Each of them has been a mixed bag in the early going. Never quit adding. In some bizarro world where there aren’t enough innings to go around, there are always at least half a dozen teams willing to part with real talent for a quality pitcher.
On the other side of the ball, this is the best the Cub offense has looked over a two-day period. It isn’t just 15 runs in two games (just one better than they had in games 1 and 2). It was 15 runs in two days that felt like maybe it could have been 20 or more. They still left a number of runners on base and had a handful of fly balls that died at the warning track.
On Tuesday, the primary weapons were Alex Bregman and Pete Crow-Armstrong with three hits apiece. On Wednesday, it was Nico Hoerner with three hits and two more by Carson Kelly. Even Michael Conforto chipped in a timely double that scored three runs. On Friday, Seiya Suzuki should return to the lineup and make the lineup a little bit deeper.
It’ll be interesting to see who heads out with Seiya back. Scott Kingery has gotten just two appearances and no plate appearances so far, but is the most obvious player to play center field if/when you finally rest Pete Crow-Armstrong. Kingery hasn’t had regular playing time since the 2020 season and at 32, isn’t particularly a valuable piece. Dylan Carlson has four plate appearances over three games. I can’t see anyone other than the two of them going. I know a lot of people will expect Conforto to go. While I do wonder how productive his bat will be when it gets much less playing time, he has shown a bit of value at the plate in this series. I’d drop Kingery and figure out center when you need it later on. Conforto is the left-handed bench bat at this time.
It was good to see Conforto produce while Ian Happ was out of the lineup a couple of days. It was so rare to get any production out of the bench in 2025. Maybe he and the non-playing catcher give the Cubs a couple of good bench options, at least at the plate, as well as Matt Shaw who should head to the bench.
Hello .500, old friend. It’s been, what? Three days since we last saw you?
Let’s look at the results from this one.
Three Positives:
Nico Hoerner. Three hits, two runs, two runs driven in. Professional hitter. Team leader in RBI? Who’d believe?
Colin Rea. Another big lift for the pitching staff. Quietly, the Cubs starters are putting together a decent run of games and providing some length. He didn’t get run support until the fifth inning.
Carson Kelly had a pair of hits, one a double, and scored a run.
Game 12, April 8: Cubs 6, Rays 2 (6-6)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Michael Conforto (.156). 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Hero: Colin Rea (.123). 5 IP, 20 BF, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 2 K (W 1-0)
WPA Play of the Game: Michael Conforto batted with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth inning, the game tied at one. He hit a double into the right center field gap, not missing a homer by much. The throw back to the infield was wild as was the throw to the plate and the Cubs netted three runs and a runner on third. (.183)
*Rays Play of the Game: Jonny DeLuca led off the third inning with a single while the Rays were down only one. (.044)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 11 Winner: Javier Assad received 178 out of 190 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Edward Cabrera +6
Nico Hoerner +5 (+1 this game)
Hoby Milner/Ian Happ/Colin Rea +4 (Rea +2 this game)
Matt Shaw -6 (-1)
Phil Maton -6
Alex Bregman -7 (-3)
Up Next: An off day Thursday and then the Cubs return to Wrigley Field to face the Pirates. The Pirates have been a bit of an early surprise and have won seven of 10 after dropping the first two games of the season and looking sloppy doing it. The Pirates are 4-2 at home and 3-0 against teams under .500. So they are still needing to show that they can win away from home and against good teams. I still think the Cubs are ultimately one of the good ones.
Shōta Imanaga (0-1, 4.50, 10 IP) gets the start for the Cubs. He looked better on Sunday in his second start of the year. He’s 2-0 with 0.35 ERA in four career starts against the Pirates. 27-year-old Carmen Mlodzinski will start for the Pirates. I can’t help shedding a tear for a future game between Carmen and Milwaukee’s opening day starter. Keyboards will be broken. Carmen was a compensatory pick for the Pirates in the 2020 draft (31st overall) out of South Carolina. Carmen has no decisions yet and a 4.00 ERA in nine innings of work. In parts of four seasons, he’s made 111 appearances, 19 of them starts with a 3.28 ERA.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Pico Kohn of the New York Yankees works out during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 27, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The minor league season is in full swing, as all four affiliates have now hit the field for a full week of play. The last two weeks, we’ve previewed Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Somerset as the two affiliates containing the closest prospects to the majors. You’ll see a number of these guys in the big leagues in the next two years, whether in the Bronx or elsewhere.
But today, we’re checking out the affiliates full of players who still have a bunch of developing left to do. They come from all different backgrounds. Some are just beginning their professional journeys after being drafted last July (here’s a full list of where they’re all starting this season), while others are international prospects who are looking to continue their climb up the minor league ladder. There are big prospects, former top prospects in need of a bounce-back season, and everyone in between.
This area of the minor leagues is make-or-break for dozens of prospects yearly. Many of the prospects who are released before naturally hitting free agency never reach Double-A. Despite being so far off from the majors, there’s a big microscope on these levels. Everyone’s path here may be different, but they’re all judged the same.
High-A Hudson Valley
As we’ve seen with the upper levels, the organization’s catching depth took a serious beating at last year’s Trade Deadline, when they dealt Rafael Flores Jr., Edgleen Perez, and Jesus Rodriguez for big league help. At the High-A level, we have Josue Gonzalez and Eric Genther.
Gonzalez is another glove-first catcher who’s struggled to get his bat going since making it to A-ball in June 2024. As Low-A Tampa’s backup catcher and first baseman in 2025, he hit just .171 with an OPS under .600 in 265 plate appearances. Genther predominantly played outfield at Rhode Island in college, but the 23-year-old undrafted free agent appears to be utilized behind the plate to start the first full season of his pro career after a strong 17-game cup of coffee in Tampa last year.
The infield is chock full of 2025 draftees, headlined by third-round pick Kaeden Kent and fifth-round pick Core Jackson, who figure to slide around second base, third base, and shortstop, along with a former top prospect. Roderick Arias is coming off two brutal seasons in Tampa, where his strikeout rate was untenably high and his supposed strength, his defense, was equally poor. The 21-year-old is moving up despite not showing real progress in either season, but sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery.
Also on the infield are 2025 10th-rounder Connor McGinnis and 13th-rounder Kyle West. While McGinnis will mop up reps at DH and second base when one of the other three is sitting, West will split time at first base with Josh Moylan, who’s entering a pivotal season after struggling in 2025, and the outfield.
The outfield features another 2025 draft pick in 12th-rounder Camden Troyer, along with Wilson Rodriguez, a former 18th-rounder out of Puerto Rico, and Cole Gabrielson. There are also three guys currently on the 7-day injured list. Robbie Burnett was a priority UDFA out of Georgia in 2025, Tyler Wilson is a former eighth-round pick, and Luis Durango will fill in as a glove-first center fielder with tremendous speed.
On the pitching side, the starting rotation features several Tampa call-ups and 2025 draftees. Leading the way is Pico Kohn, the Yankees’ highest drafted pitcher in 2025 out of Mississippi State. He’s joined by sixth-rounder Rory Fox out of Notre Dame, and Texas Tech’s Jack Cebert, who was picked in the 15th round. You might remember Kohn from his very brief cameo in spring training, when he struck out both batters he faced before the game was called due to rain.
Brandon Decker got a midseason promotion last year from Tampa, and the former 19th-round pick will look to build on a solid campaign that saw him post a 3.61 ERA in 85 innings. Sean Paul Liñan will look to improve his arsenal around his standout changeup in his debut season in the organization after being dealt by Washington in the Jorbit Vivas trade. Rounding out the rotation is Luis Serna, who’s still only 21 despite losing much of the last season due to injury. The Mexico native was a prospect darling in rookie ball and is looking to get back on the saddle.
The rotation even has some built-in depth in case of injury, as Andrew Landry and Franyer Herrera are up from Tampa to serve as spot starters and long relievers. Herrera, who turns 21 next month, only has 10 innings above rookie ball, but was tremendous in the FCL last year. Landry was a 16th-round pick in 2023 who split time in Tampa and Hudson Valley last year and made 22 starts.
Hudson Valley’s bullpen has been one of the best in all of minor league baseball for several years, as the Yankees have routinely signed older UDFA arms with one or two strong pitches whose stuff can play right away in A-ball. While most of those arms are starting in Tampa, they’ll be here soon. 11th-rounder Ben Grable figures to get high-leverage innings right away as he joins a number of holdovers, like Jackson Fristoe, Tanner Bauman, Hansel Rincon, Jack Sokol, Chris Veach, and Tony Rossi, a 26-year-old righty who could be in Somerset before long after a terrific 2025.
They have a number of pitchers still on the shelf who could factor in soon. Brady Kirtner, Aaron Nixon, and Bryce Warrecker figure to be key parts of the bullpen when they return, while we could see Brian Hendry and Ocean Gabonia later in the year. The elephant in the room is the Renegades’ highest-ranked prospect, Bryce Cunningham. He’s on the 7-day injured list, so his return could come relatively soon.
Low-A Tampa
Tampa’s roster is a mix of FCL prospects taking the next step and the rest of the 2025 draft class. One name that will not start the year here is Dax Kilby, who’s rehabbing a minor hamstring issue to start the year. If he gets off to a similar start to the year as George Lombard Jr. did in 2025, expect him not to stay here for long. 16th-rounder Jackson Lovich, who tore the cover off the ball in a small sample last year, is also on the injured list.
The catching room is headlined by Engelth Urena, who will also split time at first base while trying to get going at the plate. He featured very mature power in rookie ball, but struggled to do much in Tampa last year with an additional cup of coffee in Hudson Valley. FCL call-up Ediel Rivera and 2025 UDFA Gregory Bozzo will also get reps.
While Kilby and Lovich rehab their injuries, the infield will feature the likes of 2024 draftee Austin Green, 2025 20th-rounder Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek (son of Mark), holdovers Enmanuel Tejada and Hans Montero, and FCL call-ups Santiago Gomez and Kevin Verde.
Tejada is the big name here, as he looks to get back to his 2024 form, where he was hitting .300 before tearing his ACL in July. He and Montero could be in Hudson Valley before long. Gomez’s bat regressed in 2025, but he hit .321 in 2024 in the FCL and will also be the designated position player-pitcher, having entered 12 different games in mop-up duty in the last few years.
Brando Mayea is the headliner in Tampa’s outfield, as the former top international prospect makes his full-season debut after injuries and underperformance hurt his trajectory over the past two seasons. Willy Montero will get plenty of reps alongside him, as will 2025 UDFA Logan Maxwell and 2024 17th-rounder JoJo Jackson, who’s only played 12 games in his first two professional seasons due to injury.
Tampa’s rotation is similar to HV’s in terms of composition. 2025 draftees Justin West, Tyler Boudreau, and Blake Gillespie will start down here, and there are reasons to like each of their arsenals. Danny Flatt is a holdover from an injury-riddled 2025 and could be a strong start away from a promotion, while Allen Facundo has a strong case to already be in Hudson Valley after pitching to a 1.85 ERA in 39 innings last year after recovering from injury. Former top prospect Henry Lalane will also look to build up after an injury-riddled 2025, looking to get back to the tremendous stuff that had turned heads in rookie ball.
The bullpen will be erratic all year, but the org will look to find some diamonds in the rough. 2024 fifth-rounder Greysen Carter is looking to bounce back after an ugly 2025, where he walked 67 in 54.2 innings. UDFAs Matthew Tippie (who throws a forkball!) and Parker Seay will look to follow the blueprint that many have utilized, while FCL call-ups Jose Ledesma, Jose Martinez, Jordarlin Mendoza, Jose M. Rodriguez, and Josh Tiedemann look to make a name for themselves. Look out for former seventh-round pick Wyatt Parliament to factor in at some point this summer as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
Missouri baseball is rolling into another huge SEC weekend, fresh off its big wins over Missouri State and Kentucky.
The series against South Carolina kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday night, followed by 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon. This will be another game at Taylor Stadium underneath the lights, with Tiger fans dressed in black and the bats ready to do some damage.
Series Expectations
The Tigers have a current record of 20-14, and a home record of 11-7, after their huge victories against Missouri State and Kentucky. The team has an overall batting average of .287 and a slugging percentage of .438.
The Gamecocks have an overall record of 15-19, with their away record being 1-8. The team has a .253 batting average and a .446 slugging percentage, with more strikeouts than Mizzou.
Offensive Side
The biggest threats Mizzou will have to watch out for are KJ Scobey, with 15 doubles this season, Talmadge LeCroy, with a .496 SLG and Will Craddock, with a .308 AVG and a .598 SLG. Although their weak spots run in the bottom of their lineup, with weaker batting averages.
Mizzou takes the advantage on the consistency side, with more walks and a better team on-base percentage of .404. The Gamecocks are on the hunt for extra-base hits, so Mizzou pitchers will have to look out for this.
Although the Tigers have key hitters, such as Tyler Macon, with a .348 AVG, and lots of gap power. Also, Jase Woita has a solid combo of power and consistency, which will hopefully be a big threat for the Gamecocks. Blaize Ward has not gone unnoticed, with an on-base percentage of .467 and key hits when needed most.
Pitching Comparison
The Tigers have a team ERA of 5.29 and an opponent average of .235. South Carolina has a lower team ERA of 4.51, with a higher opponent average of .237. That being said, the Gamecocks have the same number of strikeouts as the Tigers do, and an almost identical opponent average.
To break it down even more, Josh McDevitt is the team’s ace, with a 3.66 ERA and 52 strikeouts for the team. Alongside him, Javyn Pimental has contained low damage during his time on the mound and a 3.33 ERA to go along with it.
Mizzou’s bullpen is even stronger, with Eli Skidmore proving to be a shutdown reliever and Juan Villarreal’s opponents averaging a 1.46. Sam Rosand, a usual late-game option, started for the first time in his career and secured their win against Kentucky on April 5.
The Gamecocks have an ace similar to McDevitt, named Amp Phillips, with a 2.59 ERA and 46 strikeouts. Alongside him, Brandon Stone has a 3.11 ERA and 36 strikeouts. For their bullpen, Zach Russell and Logan Prisco have been effective relievers.
Ward has had nothing short of an impressive season so far, from becoming the SEC Freshman of the Week to going 3-3 against Kentucky during the last game of the series on Sunday, April 5.
Ward leads the team with his outstanding batting average of .360, with 20 RBI’s and 27 hits in total. His ability to drive in runs for the team when needed most is stellar, and so is his current seven-game hitting streak.
Victory against Neighboring Missouri State
The Tigers put on a show at Taylor Stadium and claimed a 5-2 victory backed by Donovan Jordan and his powerful bat. He delivered the game’s biggest moment when launching a three-run homer on his birthday, breaking their 2-2 tie.
On the mound, Keyler Gonzalez dominated as a reliever, tossing six innings in total with nine strikeouts to shut down Missouri’s offense. More pitching led the way for the Tigers, as Trey Lawrence came in at the end of the game and secured his first win of the season.
Wrap Up
With a chance to extend their SEC success and protect their home-field advantage, Missouri looks ready to make this three-game series a showcase for Tigers baseball at its best.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 08: Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals exits the game after being injured during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Royals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Royals have started the season 5-7. It feels a lot worse than that, probably because the Royals’ run differential of -12 means that they could easily have a worse record. There are some reasons to think the team will get out of this slump and still do well on the year, but it can absolutely be hard to consider those when the team is coming off its worst loss of the season. Especially when that loss included the team’s ace exiting the game before he was able to complete a single inning due to yet another injury. Sure, it’s a thumb contusion caused by a comebacker to the mound, not a muscle or ligament injury that’s likely to sideline him for long. But it feels like it fits the pattern.
But outside of that, the starting rotation has been pretty good. So maybe your concern is the outfield, which is doing much better than last year, but hasn’t exactly been lighting the world on fire with its power. Or maybe the bullpen, which has already allowed a pair of walkoffs to opponents to begin the year. Or maybe it’s even the infield, where Bobby Witt Jr and Vinnie Pasquantino are having their traditional slow starts, and Salvador Perez hasn’t added much beyond his two home runs.
Regardless, vote in this poll and let us know where your biggest concerns are so we can talk about them.
Gwinnett rode an excellent start from Didier Fuentes to a shutout victory on Wednesday, as the Stripers moved to 7-4 on the young season.
In six innings of work, Fuentes scattered just two hits while striking out eight in the process. The only blemish for the young righty, is that he issued four walks during the process.
Regardless, Fuentes’ stuff was still incredible despite the shaky command. His fastball topped out at 99.8 MPH on the night while averaging 96.9 MPH. As for his breaking stuff, Fuentes’ only threw two changeups on the night while relying heavily on his sweeper, which was somewhat inconsistent, especially on the inner third of the plate for RHH.
Overall, Fuentes was as solid as ever, getting a team-high 13 swings and misses during the process on the night as well, while only five of his 86 pitches were hit “hard” into fair territory, per Baseball Savant.
Just another day at the office for Didier Fuentes 🔥
At the plate, it was sort of an “all-hands-on-deck approach for Gwinnett, as Jim Jarvis went 1-3 with an RBI, while DeShawn Kiersey Jr. laced an RBI-triple in the process as well.
On another note, relatively new farmhand Victor Mederos was spectacular in his organization debut.
Across two innings pitched, Mederos dominated as he struck out three in those two frames. What was more impressive is his two-seam fastball averaged 96 MPH with more than 16’ of horizontal break and 7’ of vertical break. In addition to his fastball, Mederos threw a cutter and slider, both of which he used 19% of the time in his outing.
If he can keep up numbers like that from out of the pen, the Braves may have another interesting bullpen piece to add to the big league roster eventually.
Keeping with what has been a trend for Atlanta’s minor league affiliates so far this season, pitching was the key to the game for Columbus as they picked up their first win of the year on Wednesday.
Herick Hernandez got the start and struck out seven across 4.2 innings of work while getting 14 swings and misses — good for fourth-best in all of double-A on Wednesday. While he did scatter three hits and issue three walks, the lefty limited the damage and managed to keep Montgomery off the scoreboard while he was on the mound.
The star of the show at the plate was Lizandro Espinoza, as the 23-year-old utility player went 2-4 with a homer and a double to go along with a pair of RBI, a pair of runs scored and a walk in the process.
Ambioris Tavarez finally notched his first homer of the season, as he took a 2-1 fastball on the inner third of the plate and pulled it over the left field wall for a two-run homer. The shot registered at 104 MPH off the bat, which is a good sign for Tavarez who has struggled mightily at the plate over the course of his pro career.
— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) April 8, 2026
With Wednesday’s performance, Tavarez has seen his OPS jump to 1.025 across eight games, which is admittedly a small sample size, but it’s encouraging for the 22-year-0ld nonetheless.
(3-2) Rome Emperors 5, (3-2) Bowling Green Hot Rods 6
As the only minor league affiliate to come up short in terms of a win on Wednesday, Rome still had several individual performances to stand out.
Starter Jeremey Reyes didn’t have his best stuff on Wednesday, but still showed flashes of his above-average stuff. In 5.2 innings of work, Reyes was tagged for four runs on three hits while striking out five. The largest detriment to his performance were walks, as he issued three of them.
While it may not have been the outcome he wanted, his fastball did touch 98 MPH and his breaking stuff looked sharp at times as well.
Getting the start at DH, Eric Hartman put the barrel on the ball tremendously last night. Hartman laced a 101 MPH double off the bat in the second inning and also crushed a 103 MPH solo homer in the top of the first — not to mention hitting it off a LHP — to get the scoring started for Rome on the night.
Owen Carey was excellent as well, as he went 2-4 with an RBI and a rocket of a double that checked in at 104 MPH and just narrowly missed leaving the yard in the third frame.
(2-3) Augusta GreenJackets 11, (1-4) Delmarva Shorebirds 1
The GreenJackets absolutely dominated Delmarva, winning by a final of 11-1.
Augusta got standout performances from both the usual and unusual suspects in the process, as Tate Southisene launched his first career homer — a 431 blast that registered at 108 MPH off the bate — while driving in three runs and scoring two in the process to lead the charge.
— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) April 9, 2026
As for the unusual suspects, Caden Merritt was excellent on Wednesday night, as he went 2-3 with a double and three RBI as well. Through 16 at-bats, the undrafted free agent out of Gainesville, Virginia is batting .313 with an OPS of .825 to start the season.
Starter Derek Vartanian was solid in his first career minor league start as the Campbell University product has dealt with a plethora of injuries over the course of his career.
In 4.2 innings of work, Vartanian gave up six hits, but limited the damage to just one earned run while striking out a whopping seven batters in the process.
Hopefully the 22-year-old righty can stay healthy to give the Braves a longer look, because the talent and stuff is absolutely there.
R.J. Barrett
Alperen Sengun
Mikal Bridges
Raphielle Johnson
